The Village of Hötofta and its Use of the Landscape

Abstract

Since the excavations led by the author were carried out at the settlement at Hötofta in connection with gravel extraction, the complex and the rich find material has been described and discussed in many papers. The intense analyses of the pottery are a considerable part. The aim of this paper is to summarize research about the settlement and present the result: the excavations and the problems, the analyses, glimpses of how the settlements of the village were organized, its adaptation in the landscape and development from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages. The historical geographical analyses by Mats Riddersporre, with the finding that Hötofta developed to a manor-in-the-village, are very important. The rather high status of Hötofta does not mean, however, that it had a special connection to Uppåkra, even if we have to reckon with good connections by means of the road.